Final answer:
Self-antigens are molecules that are present in our own body and are not recognized as foreign by the immune system. They help prevent the immune system from mistakenly attacking the body's own cells and tissues. Self-antigens play a crucial role in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
An antigen is a foreign or “non-self” macromolecule that reacts with cells of the immune system. Not all antigens will provoke a response. For instance, individuals produce innumerable self antigens and are constantly exposed to harmless foreign antigens, such as food proteins, pollen, or dust components. Self-antigens are molecules that are present in our own body and are not recognized as foreign by the immune system.
The function of self-antigens is to help the immune system distinguish between self and non-self antigens. They help prevent the immune system from mistakenly attacking the body's own cells and tissues. Self-antigens play a crucial role in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases.
Self-antigens are formed during the development of immune cells in the thymus and bone marrow. During this process, immune cells learn to recognize self-antigens and not mount an immune response against them. However, sometimes the mechanisms that prevent the recognition of self-antigens can break down, leading to the production of autoantibodies and the development of autoimmune diseases.